Singtel Investigating Online Claim That a Person’s Line Was Cut Off by a Scammer

By
Shawn Ambrose
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Are you unhappy with your mobile service provider?

Want to terminate your line but don’t want to be put on hold for 16 hours while listening to elevator music?

Well, all you have to do is be patient and wait for a scammer to do it for you, just like what they did to this Singtel customer.

Singtel Investigating Online Claim That a Person’s Line Was Cut Off by a Scammer

Singtel is investigating a claim by one of its customers who had his mobile line allegedly terminated by a scammer, according to The New Paper.

In a Facebook post on Sunday (12 July), user Dave Tai described his one-of-a-kind experience of being scammed.

According to Tai, his mobile line was suddenly terminated by someone who claimed to be running a scam known as SimSwap.

While SimSwap sounds like a reality TV show where ex-lovers switch phones for a day, it’s actually a scam that typically targets weaknesses in two-factor authentication and two-step verification where the second factor or step is a text message or call.

The scammer told Tai that he had hacked into Singtel and retrieved Tai’s personal details from its records, including his address.

The scammer then demanded that Tai provide a code to him and assist in the scheme by facilitating bitcoin transactions.

In his post, Tai said he couldn’t access SingPass or change any of his passwords without his number. He also warned the public to be careful, as he believed that that the telco’s official communication channels “can become part of a scammer’s tool”.

How SimSwap Scams Work

The SimSwap scam, like most scams, begins with the gathering of personal information, like one’s address and name.

Scammers usually obtain this information through phishing emails, social media, or purchasing it from organised criminals.

Once they have the information, scammers contact the victim’s mobile telephone provider and pose as the victim, providing the personal details they acquired for verification.

If successful, the scammer could swap SIM cards and would be able to receive all the text messages and voice calls intended for the victim.

Since most verification systems of social media and banking accounts require verification through text message and calls, scammers would be able to get access to these areas too.

Image: Tenor

Singtel’s Response

In response to the incident, Singtel said: “We are sorry that Mr Tai had this unfortunate experience and have assisted him in resolving the issues with his account. We are conducting a thorough investigation and have reported the incident to the police.”

They added that the police are investigating the matter too.

Fortunately, Tai said his number had been reactivated by Singtel, and the telco has also offered to change his number for better security.

How To Protect Yourself Against a SimSwap Scam

Complete protection against a SimSwap scam is not easy because scammers can retrieve your personal information without actually interacting with you, but there are some extra precautions you can take to avoid becoming a victim:

  • Don’t reply to calls, emails, or text messages that request personal information – these could be phishing attempts
  • Limit the personal information you share online – If possible, avoid posting your full name, address, or phone number on public sites
  • Set up a PIN or password on your phone – This could help protect your account from unauthorized changes
  • Use stronger authentication on accounts with sensitive personal or financial information 

If you believe you’re the target of a SimSwap scam, contact your mobile service provider immediately to regain control of your phone number.

You should also check your credit card, bank, and other financial accounts for unauthorized charges or changes.

Since we’re on the topic of technology, you might as well just watch our latest video whereby we simplify what TraceTogether is here:

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Shawn Ambrose
Email: [email protected]